BJ21.com Newsletter
July 10, 2009   090710

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Compiled by Al Rogers
 Al@bj21.com


Court rules casino lawsuits can be heard in state courts


OKLAHOMA CITY – In a ruling that a Choctaw Nation attorney called a blow to tribal sovereignty, a split Oklahoma Supreme Court has held in two cases that lawsuits against Choctaw casinos can be brought in state courts as well as tribal courts.    More case information:  Danny Dye and Pat Dye v. Choctaw Casino of Pocola, Oklahoma and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Tribal Sovereignty:  Convoluted Policies Creats Confusion

During the mid-1800s, the United States government relocated certain tribes in an effort to reduce conflicts with the large numbers of immigrants moving westward. This dark period of relations with Indian tribes gave way to the assimilation and allotment periods.

Sheriff’s pursuits stop at Red Lake Reservation border

MINNESOTA - That Beltrami County deputies lack jurisdiction on the Red Lake Reservation concerns county commissioners when the tribe opens its new casino. Commissioners on Tuesday night approved upgrades to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Department Policy Manual that includes procedures involving the Red Lake Reservation.

DA says contests at NY casino were fixed

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - The woman in charge of promotions at the casino at Yonkers Raceway was indicted Tuesday on charges she arranged for friends and relatives to win contests.

Online gambling could see better luck

A federal law passed in 2006 was supposed to put online gambling halls out of business, but one gaming group is challenging the law in court.

TV and London Offer Gambling Fix


MOSCOW - A week after gambling was banned in Moscow, viewership for televised poker shows is climbing, a London casino is offering to send private jets for big-spending gamblers and gambling addicts are calling a hotline to complain that they can still find places to bet.

Experts raise issues on probe of Moulin Rouge fire

For city residents, the four-alarm fire at the Moulin Rouge in May was a civic misfortune, the second major blaze to devastate the site since the iconic downtown hotel opened in 1955. For Las Vegas arson investigators, who have confirmed that the fire was set by human hands though not necessarily intentionally, the blaze presents a host of facts to explore.

Buyer's Remorse Hits Vegas Project -- City Center Development Resists Requests to Renegotiate Prices of Condos Sold in Boom


One of the costliest and highest-profile condominium developments in the country -- the $8.4 billion City Center project in Las Vegas -- is facing a revolt from some early buyers.

Gauging casino buyouts’ role in misfortune -- Taking companies private ballooned debt, led to layoffs, but the moves have defenders

Private equity firms made offers to acquire Harrah’s Entertainment and Station Casinos in 2006 and early 2007, when capital was cheap and business was booming.

Woman sues Vegas company over ATM fees


A Las Vegas company that provides credit and ATM services to casinos around the country has been sued by a Pennsylvania woman over ATM machine fee disclosure requirements.

Testimony heard in Wynn case -- Commissioner will hear from dealers who want tip-sharing policy stopped  ...


Wynn Las Vegas dealer Daniel Baldonado has been waiting for this day for nearly three years. After a journey through the Nevada court system that ended last year, Baldonado's claim against the hotel-casino for a new tip pooling policy he believes breaks state law is before the state labor commissioner.

... Casino dealers bring tip-sharing case to federal court

Even as Nevada's labor commissioner heard testimony this week in the long-running dispute over tip sharing at Wynn Las Vegas, attorneys for casino dealers pressed the issue in a different forum: federal court.

Palace expansion shows "confidence in the market"

BILOXI - The Palace Casino is about to undergo what's been called the largest casino expansion since Katrina.  When the work is done in 2011, Palace executives expect their resort to once look and feel like it did before the hurricane. 

IGT lays off 55 workers in new Reno cuts

RENO - International Game Technology, the world's largest slot machine producer, will lay off 55 more workers at its Reno headquarters this week as it continues to adjust during the recession, a company spokesman said Thursday.

Tropicana sale has lawmakers seeking tighter oversight laws in N.J.


ATLANTIC CITY - Citing alleged conflicts of interest in the sale of Tropicana Casino and Resort, two New Jersey lawmakers are drafting legislation to prevent state-appointed conservators from hiring their own firms or family members.

What should N.J. casinos, horse betting industries do to survive? ...

New Jersey's horse racing and casino gambling industries still have a long way to go in developing a collaborative strategy to meet the competitive challenges emerging in neighboring states.

... N.J. Gov. says sports betting needed for casinos' future  ...


It took New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine more than eight years to finally realize that sports betting could play an important role in the success of a casino. So now he has filed a lawsuit looking to overturn a federal ban on sports betting in New Jersey and 45 other states.

... Panel continues working toward table games

DOVER - State officials must ensure Delaware's casino industry a reasonable profit in order for proposed table game gambling to be worthwhile, a casino executive said.

Riviera skips another interest payment

The owner of the Riviera hotel-casino in Las Vegas said today it missed another interest payment on its debt -- but continues to talk with its lender as it looks for a way out of its financial predicament.

Fontainebleau fires back, outlines bank dispute

Attorneys for the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort leveled new allegations Wednesday against banks that terminated funding for the $2.9 billion hotel-casino, which now sits unfinished and in limbo while a bankruptcy court decides its fate.

Nevada faces longer, deeper recession

Compared to most other states, Nevada faces a longer and deeper recession, which could linger for another two years, according to several leading financial experts.

Hundreds of poker players turned away from main event

LAS VEGAS - A gold bracelet wasn't necessary to read the faces of hundreds of poker players turned away from registering for the World Series of Poker main event Monday.


The Bear Growls
Bear Praise for Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling on tribal sovereignty

Long-time Las Vegas-based advantage player, casino critic, and frequent BJ21.com contributor LVBear offers his opinions on things that sometimes go wrong in the world of casinos.  Current and past growls can be read and comments posted at LVBear's website, TheBearGrowls.com

By LVBear
LVBear584@cox.net

In the news article, Court rules casino lawsuits can be heard in state courts,  Choctaw counsel Bob Rabon is quoted:  “I’ve been representing Indian tribes for 40 years, and this is probably the single most difficult blow for tribal sovereignty that I have ever seen in my career."  This is great to know.  Perhaps it is a step towards dismantling the "tribal sovereignty" system that has been such a failure. 

Tribes operate big casinos that plunder their surrounding communities, generating most of their money from non-tribal members.  Patron disputes and allegations of wrongdoing are ignored by the casino-controlled "tribal gaming commissions."  Victims of casino wrongdoing are expected to file complaints in the local tribal kangaroo court system.  Local non-tribal law enforcement agencies, though they often have jurisdiction over felonies committed on tribal land, are reluctant to arrest casino employees who commit violent crimes against patrons, often citing the stupidity of ”tribal sovereignty" as a reason for their refusal to do their duty.  "Tribal sovereignty" has been a dismal failure and should be ended.  This court case may be the beginning of the end of “tribal sovereignty.”  I hope so.


Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting by King Yao

Sports betting can be attacked intelligently. Smart sports bettors do not gamble the same way as tourists play roulette or retirees play the slot machines. Instead, smart sports bettors are making bets that they have thought through carefully with supporting logic and/or research. The purpose of this book is to give you tools to succeed at sports betting, to show you how to evaluate, compare and view sports betting from an analytical perspective, not from a gambling perspective.

The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address). Order Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting.


Sharp Sports Betting, the book, by Stanford Wong          2009 printing now available

Millions of dollars are wagered on sports events each year. Most people give up a part of their bet to the house, while some "sharp" bettors actually turn a profit for themselves. Sharp Sports Betting by Stanford Wong is a revolutionary text on getting the edge over bookmakers. Much of this information has never before been seen in print.

Some important topics covered in this book are:

Money management - Proper money management lets you win more than if you simply make flat bets. Sharp Sports Betting explains when to bet more, and how much to bet.

Internet sports betting - The Internet has opened up the opportunity for people to bet on sports without visiting Nevada. Along with making bets on the Internet, there are many important things to know. How do you open an account? How do you get bonuses? What do you do if they are slow to pay you?

Parlays - Parlays are risky; you can lose faster or you can win faster than with straight bets. Sharp Sports Betting explains the mathematics behind parlays. It explains how to make parlays that give you an edge over bookmakers. It will help you answer questions like, "Should I parlay these two bets?" "Should I bet off-the-board or with a parlay card?" "A casino is offering 7:1 on a 3-team parlay. Is that good?"

Props - Do you ever bet on how many of something is going to occur, such as how many games your favorite team is going to win during the coming season, or how many field goals will be kicked during the Super Bowl? Sharp Sports Betting explains how to evaluate such prop bets to find the nuggets.

Historical NFL data - Have you ever wondered how frequently certain spreads are achieved? When you should buy a half point for a dime? How big a deviation you need from the posted spread to get an edge? When should you bet the money line instead of the spread? Sharp Sports Betting has the answers to all these and more. The 2009 printing has data through the 2008-2009 season.

NFL teasers - Since football points often come three or seven at a time, some final scores are more common than others. The sharp sports bettor can take advantage by making teaser bets. Sharp Sports Betting explains which teams to tease to get an edge over bookmakers.

And lots more… If you are brand new to sports betting and want the basics on how to place bets and what the different information in a sports book means, Sharp Sports Betting gives the answers. If you're a seasoned pro and want explanations of how to analyze the various betting options available in sportsbooks, Sharp Sports Betting has much essential but never-before-published information.

The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address).  Order Sharp Sports Betting.


Beat the Players - Casinos, Cops and the Game Inside the Game, by Bob Nersesian

This book should be read by everyone who sets foot in a casino: average casino patrons, skilled players, casino employees, and anyone else. It should be required reading for police officers, regulators, other public officials, and attorneys who may represent any of the aforementioned. Beat the Players was the subject of a feature in USA Today.

Bob Nersesian is an attorney who represents victims of casino wrongdoing against patrons. In an enjoyable writing style, he takes a look at the often too-cozy relationship between casinos, police, and regulators. He discusses specific cases and dispenses sound, practical advice that patrons, casinos and public officials would be wise to heed. Cases discussed are from Nevada and other jurisdictions.

Chapters include: Your Money or Your Liberty; Scary Cop Statements; They'll Take Your Liberty Anyway; Gaming Agents Speak; The Take of the State; Rules for Casino Patrons; Gambling at the Legal Limits; Cops Hate Card Counters; Griffin Investigations; Casinos Cheat With Impunity; A Judicial and Government Overlay; Finding a Nickel Brings Trouble; Names and Aliases; The Security Office and Surveillance Functions, and Casinos and Cops.

Appendices include Nevada Cheating and Detention Laws with Commentary; Other Nevada Gaming Laws of Interest; Gaming Cases of Interest, and Nevada Gaming Regulations with Commentary.

The 320-page book includes a bibliography and an index.

The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address). Green Chip members get their normal 10% discount      .Order Beat the Players.


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Current Blackjack News

On the 1st and 2nd of every month, a couple dozen Pi Yee Press reporters visit casinos around the United States to check on the blackjack rules and playing conditions. Five of those reporters split up Las Vegas and visit every casino in town. Any changes in rules and playing conditions that they find, they email to the CBJN editor, who compiles them into a newsletter that is published late in the afternoon on the 3rd. That report is available as a single issue, your choice of e-mail or regular mail. The price of a single issue is $13 for electronic or $16 for regular mail.  Sample issue of  Current Blackjack News.

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